The Osceola times., 1887-09-10
THE MYSTERIOUS DOG.
Whence Did He Come, and Whore
Did He Coz

81 have no story of ghost or witch,
no tale of uncanny horrors to relate.
said old DIR. Gray, in a pause of the
conversation to which he had been an
intent listener The wild winds with
out, the sweeping Of the gale across the
lake beyond the harbor, and the grue-
some night had suggested tales Of a
supernatural order, and each had added
his mite of experience. "But," con-
iinued the doctor, 81 am reminded of a
singular incident that happened during
the second year of my practice-one
that | regarded at the time as a warm
ing of something that was coming into
my life; but as time glided smoothly by
and nothing came Of it, | ceased to
think of the matter.
"As you all know, located in the
beginning in the thrifty village of
Haven, overlooking the Mohawk. A
busy little town it was in those days.
The railroad magnates had placed
their round-houscs there, giving us
the finest eating house on the line. and
caused all the noontime and early even
ing trains to stop there for hot meals.
The farmers used it for market place,
bringing their cheese and butter there;
they sold them to the dealers who
came up from the large towns on the
Hudson and below. Through the sum-
mer weather the farmers wives drove
their sleepy nags along the dusty coun-
try roads, with great baskets of eggs,
pots!of butter, the c!carest of honey, and
the purest of maple syrup, to sell at
the depot or village stores. Every
thing seemed prosperous, everybody
was busy. soon gathered an excel
lent practice; not so much due to my
own merit, perhaps, as to the fact that
providence. or fate, seemed to will it so.
when hung out my sign before a
modest Office on Main street. there were
two physicians in town; one the old
doctor, the other a young man who died
of consumption about six moaths after.
That same fall the old doctor. driving
a fractions horse over the frozen
ground, was thrown from his sulky,
and picked up at the breaking Of the
gray winters day by working-men 60
ing to their days labor. He lowered
between life and death for weeks. and
not until June, with its soft, bland air
was come did he appear on the village
streets. The intervening time was one
OF unusual sickness, and everybody
was, in a measure. compelled TO try
the new doctor. tried to attend TO it.
and what they did first from necessity
they afterwards did from choice. and
almost every family was mine before
the six months were ended. Yet ] was
not content, for like Alexander of old,
sighed for other worlds to conquer.
"Some five miles from the village
lived Farmer Miles ON one of the finest
farms in the town. He inherited II
and the grand old homestead from his
father, and beside his own immediate
family, which was large, three sister.
and two brothers owned legacies in the
farm and homes in the mansion as long
as they desired TO claim them. More
than this, some eight or ten families Of
relatives in that vicinity had fashion
of founding their faith in politics. re-
hgion and physics upon that of Farmer
Miles. The way he voted was the way
They voted, the church that he attended
they also attended, and sooner or later
the doctor he employed was the one
that they would employ. Therefore to
secure the practice of the farmer meant
along list Of new names on the columns
OF my day book with pay galore-and
This was the world l longed TO conquer.
at was the second winter OF my
practice, well on toward spring, when
reaching home at n late dinner hour !
found summons awaiting me TO 60 ai
once to Farmer Miles. Taking a mo-
ment to snatch a hurried dinner | was
on The first mile of my way led M
'he river through the long main street
OF the town. The lamp-lighter was
Just lighting his lamps. The gayly
dressed people, the clamor OF bells,
and lights flashing from shop windows
made the scene bright one. Turning
'rom the thoroughfare my route led
over the hills at the north through q
'mckly settled farming country. Here
and there as passed by, saw be-
lated farmer doing his chores. rakins
uown the hay for his horses, fastening
'ne cows in their staunchions, locking
'ne great barn doors, and making all
ohings snug for winters night
My directions had been: Drive on
'he Pennington turnpike to the great
req gate, then turn TO the left, Reach
.ng This point, where once had been a
soii-gate. turned into q narrow,
a.'i'ed and lonely road. country lane
Nnerc the snowe ha} boep pl1o1 lrou